Like being given a jigsaw with no corner pieces, the challenges of putting together what is happening in Florian Zeller’s The Forest means it is hardly worth the trip to the Hampstead Theatre.
‘A brilliant example of a post-dramatic play’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre
Florian Zeller’s superbly anti-naturalistic play is a philosophical puzzle that dissects our existential solitude.
‘Zeller is like a more humane early Stoppard’: THE FOREST – Hampstead Theatre ★★★★
The French novelist-turned-playwright Florian Zeller hit the British theatre scene a few years ago with two comedies: The Lie and The Truth, which at the time I described as “a punch-in-the-guts, cruelly affectionate, whip-smart ninety-minute treat”.
NEWS: Concert staging of Sunset Boulevard at Royal Albert Hall reunites Mazz Murray, Ramin Karimlo, Zizi Strallen & Jeremy Secomb
In a special, one-night-only concert, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton’s musical Sunset Boulevard will be staged at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 3 December 2021.
‘Makes a virtue of its scratch staging’: SUNSET BOULVARD IN CONCERT – Leicester Curve (Online review)
Curve Leicester’s Sunset Boulevard certainly offers ‘new ways to dream,’ proving a beautiful and fitting finale to a year of considerable change for theatre.
’An undeniable triumph’: SUNSET BOULVARD IN CONCERT – Leicester Curve (Online review) ★★★★★
The Curve, Leicester’s production of Sunset Boulevard takes the streaming of live theatre to a new level, not only with its music and storytelling, all performed by a wonderful cast, but also in the way in which it showcases the skill and talent of the entire team both on and off the stage.
‘An effortless performance by the cast’: GOD OF CARNAGE – Touring ★★★★★
God of Carnage is a dissection of the middle classes familiar in Yasmina Reza’s work, presenting the characters in a farcical light that is so tragically funny.
NEWS: Elton John, Sam Mendes, Natasha Gordon, James Graham & Giles Terera feature in the New Year Honours List
Elton John, Sam Mendes, Christopher Hampton, Natasha Gordon, James Graham, Giles Terera and Stephen Mear are among the list of theatre and showbusiness luminaries who feature in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
‘Hauntingly good in its fluidity’: THE SON – West End
British theatre’s determination to adopt Florian Zeller as one of its own continues unabated as the Kiln Theatre’s production of The Son transfers into the Duke of York’s for the autumn.
‘Well-made family drama’: THE SON – West End
This portrayal of contemporary family life dealing with depression is honest and believable in The Son, yet there’s a cold judgement underpinning it.
‘Devastatingly raw piece of drama’: THE SON – West End ★★★★★
Brilliantly and emotionally engagingly translated by Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller’s The Son is a piece of writing that draws you in from the start and never relinquishes its hold until the very end.
‘Akin to a beautifully composed piece of music’: THE SON – West End
The Son is akin to a beautifully composed piece of music. A perfect balance of light and shade with an inevitable surge to a heart thumping climax.
NEWS: Print Room reverts name to Coronet Theatre, announces new season
Five years after the Print Room relocated to the former Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill Gate, the building is reclaiming its original name, the Coronet Theatre. Its first season is announced.
Text of the Day: A German Life
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: A German Life at the Bridge Theatre
Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews for Jonathan Kent’s production of A German Life starring Maggie Smith.
‘Without doubt, this is the theatre event of the year’: A GERMAN LIFE – Bridge Theatre
Maggie Smith is absolutely triumphant in this memoir of a Berlin secretary in the Nazi era, A German Life at the Bridge Theatre.
Text of the Day: The Son
Random and topical thoughts and quotes gathered by My Theatre Mates contributor Aleks Sierz, first published on www.sierz.co.uk.
REVIEW ROUND-UP: The Son at Kiln Theatre
Michael Longhurst directs the UK premiere of Florian Zeller’s play The Son. Love London Love Culture rounds up the reviews…
‘A tense psychological thriller as bleak as it is strong’: THE SON – Kiln Theatre ★★★★
The final episode of Florian Zeller’s domestic trilogy, The Son, is powerfully, even melodramatically, effective.
‘Everything a high-profile touring show should be’: ART – Touring ★★★★
Art is everything a high-profile touring show should be – a carefully thought out, well-directed production of a hit play featuring a big-name cast at the top of their game.